Service sector prone to violating labour rights of young employees
Trade union gets constantl reports of abuses
Unpaid holiday pay, failure to pay for sick leave, no extras for work on Sundays or evenings: does this sound familiar?
Numerous Finnish employers have been found to violate even some of the most basic employee rights. According to the Service Union United (PAM), new cases emerge every day.
Young employees are the most prone to such exploitation.
"People are so enthusiastic about their first jobs that they rarely demand their rights", says PAM official Mia Blomqvist.
Most of the violations occur in sectors with many small companies operating, and where the shop steward network is sparse, or non-existent.
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) says that the problem is especially acute in service professions and in construction.
The situation in the service sector is further complicated by the fact that many of the employees are on part-time and short-term contracts.
In addition, many get to work without professional competence, and are not necessary aware of their rights.
Heikki Ropponen of SKL, the organisation representing wholesale and retail employers notes that in Finland, even companies that are not organised in an employers' organisation are required to follow the lines of established labour contracts.
"However, nobody enforces compliance with the contract", Ropponen adds.
Poor treatment of employees can also take the form of harassment. The Uusimaa Occupational Safety District says that harassment is common in the public sector, with those in a supervisory position often being the culprits.
The harassment often takes the form of verbal abuse, assigning unpleasant shifts, or giving unpleasant assignments.
Mrja Salmivuori, Ostrobothnian regional head of PAM, says that harassment situations can by going on sick leave, or by asking to be allowed to take annual holiday at a certain time.
Recently, problems linked with a retail store of the K-chain and the Makuuni DVD and video rental company have emerged.
A trial involving a criminal complaint against the management of the HairStore hair salon chain begins in court on Monday.
Prosecutors are demanding damages worth EUR 50,000 for unpaid sick leave and for altering labour contracts of employees who are pregnant.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 8.10.2007 - TODAY |
 Service sector prone to violating labour rights of young employees |
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